Dental advice post 2: Crossroads
*Blogger's note: The exact wording of the question has been changed to both make sure that the writer remains anonymous and to shorten the question.
Reader Question:
Hey Lindsey! I read your story and I am in the same position as you once were, but I feel...stuck. I really need help.
I know for sure that I want to be in the health care field. I just don’t know if it’s dentistry, or medicine. I have been shadowing a lot of doctors lately and about 90% of them have asked me “Why don’t you want to be a dentist like your mom? You can just hop in her practice.” The answer used to be “Oh I don’t think I want to be solely concentrated on the mouth, and medicine has always interested me more.” Lately, my answer has turned into “To be honest, I just never gave it a real shot.” AND I have had doctors tell me the negatives of medicine and horrors of insurance, just like what happened to you. Also, some have even told me that if they had a second chance, they would have gone to dental school!!! How comforting :)
So I feel like I’m stuck right now: I’ve done all of these interviews with faculty on the PreHealth Advisory Board, looked them in the eye and said “yes I for sure want to be a doctor because of ....” and now I’m scared they’re going to look at me crazy and not believe me when I tell them that I want to go to dental school now. Because if I do decide to go dental, I have to go through the advisory committee again in the spring and I don’t want them to drill me about why I changed to dentistry when I was so sure about medicine!! Same with all the doctors that wrote my letters of recommendation. I don’t want them to think less of me in anyway. I just don’t want people to think I’m indecisive or unreliable or anything by making this big switch.
What do you think I should do next? See what my MCAT score is and apply to a few schools and see if I get in anywhere? And then if I don’t get in, apply to dental school? But then I would have to go ahead and shadow over the fall. I just feel like I’m obligated to go ahead and apply this round because of Auburn’s advisory committee. Maybe I’m letting fear get in the way, and if I get a good MCAT score then all of this will go away (but the MCAT was NO fun to study for and I think I am burnt out because of it). Or maybe I’m just really in the wrong field. I don’t know what to do...HELP!
Hey Lindsey! I read your story and I am in the same position as you once were, but I feel...stuck. I really need help.
I know for sure that I want to be in the health care field. I just don’t know if it’s dentistry, or medicine. I have been shadowing a lot of doctors lately and about 90% of them have asked me “Why don’t you want to be a dentist like your mom? You can just hop in her practice.” The answer used to be “Oh I don’t think I want to be solely concentrated on the mouth, and medicine has always interested me more.” Lately, my answer has turned into “To be honest, I just never gave it a real shot.” AND I have had doctors tell me the negatives of medicine and horrors of insurance, just like what happened to you. Also, some have even told me that if they had a second chance, they would have gone to dental school!!! How comforting :)
So I feel like I’m stuck right now: I’ve done all of these interviews with faculty on the PreHealth Advisory Board, looked them in the eye and said “yes I for sure want to be a doctor because of ....” and now I’m scared they’re going to look at me crazy and not believe me when I tell them that I want to go to dental school now. Because if I do decide to go dental, I have to go through the advisory committee again in the spring and I don’t want them to drill me about why I changed to dentistry when I was so sure about medicine!! Same with all the doctors that wrote my letters of recommendation. I don’t want them to think less of me in anyway. I just don’t want people to think I’m indecisive or unreliable or anything by making this big switch.
What do you think I should do next? See what my MCAT score is and apply to a few schools and see if I get in anywhere? And then if I don’t get in, apply to dental school? But then I would have to go ahead and shadow over the fall. I just feel like I’m obligated to go ahead and apply this round because of Auburn’s advisory committee. Maybe I’m letting fear get in the way, and if I get a good MCAT score then all of this will go away (but the MCAT was NO fun to study for and I think I am burnt out because of it). Or maybe I’m just really in the wrong field. I don’t know what to do...HELP!
My Response:
I understand what you're saying about feeling embarrassed or like you're betraying those that thought you were joining their ranks--when I told my dad that I wasn't going to be a doctor, he seriously didn't talk to me for a week (he's a pathologist). And that's really tough because you just want people to respect your decision. Here's my advice to you:
I know that it's probably not something that you want to do, but I would take a gap year. I am a firm believer in more people taking them because they allow you time to explore the field you're questioning joining/ not joining before committing thousands of dollars and years of your life. Heck, had I not taken a gap year I'd be a third year medical student rather than a second year dental student. I know it's sucky to read that because it seems like you're just putting your life on hold, but I promise you it is 100% absolutely worth it! I think that it will make your application stronger because it'll allow you opportunities to get involved in a long-term community service project like the Boys and Girls Club or volunteering to do administrative work at your city's local dental health clinic, and most importantly it'll allow you time to shadow other dentist to ask them what they like about dentistry and to see if what the do everyday for hours is of any interest to you.
I definitely do not think that dental school should be a back up plan for you. For so many reasons I think that that is a big mistake because deans of schools talk to one another, but moreso because why would you apply to a school unless you were 110% passionate and sure that you wanted to dedicate your life to studying it? I think that you should take a piece of paper, divide it into two columns, and make a Pro/Con sheet of dental vs. medical. Think about the lifestyle as you mentioned, but MOST importantly the kinds of patients you want to work with and what really interest you about each field.
I think that you should enter a school because you WANT to enter it. Not because it's the first one you got into or the one that's most convenient because you're nervous what the Admissions Committee might think. I also think that taking a gap year will allow you time to grow and then show the Pre-Health committee that you're serious about your decision to change paths and that you aren't just thinking about this kinda on the whim. Seriously, when you return to the committee in a year, you'll have a stronger case for your change. And, you'll have experiences to help demonstrate why you're a good applicant on interview day as well as something to motivate you through whichever professional school you decide.
So all in all, my advice to you would be to take a year gap and explore your options. Try to get a job in a dental office, but if you can't no worries. I worked as a Marketing and Communications Director for a non-profit that helped special needs adults find jobs out in the community. That kind of job that shows your character. Volunteer regularly to demonstrate your commitment. And shadow plenty both doctors and dentists to really determine which path you're better suited and fond of. I know taking a gap year sucks, but enrolling into a medical school and withdrawing two months later would suck more and cost you literally tens of thousands of dollars.
I know that it's probably not something that you want to do, but I would take a gap year. I am a firm believer in more people taking them because they allow you time to explore the field you're questioning joining/ not joining before committing thousands of dollars and years of your life. Heck, had I not taken a gap year I'd be a third year medical student rather than a second year dental student. I know it's sucky to read that because it seems like you're just putting your life on hold, but I promise you it is 100% absolutely worth it! I think that it will make your application stronger because it'll allow you opportunities to get involved in a long-term community service project like the Boys and Girls Club or volunteering to do administrative work at your city's local dental health clinic, and most importantly it'll allow you time to shadow other dentist to ask them what they like about dentistry and to see if what the do everyday for hours is of any interest to you.
I definitely do not think that dental school should be a back up plan for you. For so many reasons I think that that is a big mistake because deans of schools talk to one another, but moreso because why would you apply to a school unless you were 110% passionate and sure that you wanted to dedicate your life to studying it? I think that you should take a piece of paper, divide it into two columns, and make a Pro/Con sheet of dental vs. medical. Think about the lifestyle as you mentioned, but MOST importantly the kinds of patients you want to work with and what really interest you about each field.
I think that you should enter a school because you WANT to enter it. Not because it's the first one you got into or the one that's most convenient because you're nervous what the Admissions Committee might think. I also think that taking a gap year will allow you time to grow and then show the Pre-Health committee that you're serious about your decision to change paths and that you aren't just thinking about this kinda on the whim. Seriously, when you return to the committee in a year, you'll have a stronger case for your change. And, you'll have experiences to help demonstrate why you're a good applicant on interview day as well as something to motivate you through whichever professional school you decide.
So all in all, my advice to you would be to take a year gap and explore your options. Try to get a job in a dental office, but if you can't no worries. I worked as a Marketing and Communications Director for a non-profit that helped special needs adults find jobs out in the community. That kind of job that shows your character. Volunteer regularly to demonstrate your commitment. And shadow plenty both doctors and dentists to really determine which path you're better suited and fond of. I know taking a gap year sucks, but enrolling into a medical school and withdrawing two months later would suck more and cost you literally tens of thousands of dollars.
Want to know more about gap years? There's a podcast for that!
Seriously, Priya and I recorded a podcast dedicated to GAP YEARS just for y'all! We both took them and we both really learned a lot through them. So check it out on iTunes here! I promise you, you're not going to regret it!